Honduras's Investor Residency (Residencia como Inversionista) lets foreign nationals who invest capital in the country obtain legal residency. It is the only one of Honduras's financially-independent residency categories that requires a one-time capital investment rather than ongoing monthly income — and at USD 50,000, it offers one of the most affordable investment thresholds in the Americas. The program is administered by the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) and is open to applicants of any nationality.
A discretionary exceptional pathway introduced in 2025 (Acuerdo Ministerial No. 374-2025) allows applicants who demonstrate at least 50% of the standard investment (USD 25,000) to qualify on a case-by-case basis, with no guarantee of approval.
The residency is indefinite and does not expire as long as the investment is maintained and legal obligations are met — there is no minimum physical stay requirement, making it attractive for those who do not intend to live in Honduras full-time. The resident alien ID card (carnet de extranjero residente) must be kept current, and holders must maintain registration in the National Registry of Foreigners. Residency is lost if the holder remains outside Honduras for more than 12 consecutive months without prior INM authorization.
The spouse, minor children, dependent adult children (due to studies or disability), and parents of the investor may be included as dependants, as well as grandparents of any Honduran-born minor children of the investor. No additional investment is required per family member. Each dependant must provide their own passport copy, criminal record (adults), medical certificate, photograph, and proof of the family relationship, all apostilled and translated into Spanish.
Honduras uses a territorial tax system — only Honduran-source income is taxed, and foreign-source income is exempt. An individual becomes a tax resident after staying more than 90 days in a fiscal year. Honduran-source personal income is taxed on a progressive scale up to 25%, with municipal income taxes also applying.
Applications must be prepared and submitted by a Honduran lawyer registered with the Colegio de Abogados de Honduras, either in person at the SGJD or via the tramitedigital.sgjd.gob.hn portal; applications can also be initiated abroad through Honduran consulates. Most nationalities can enter Honduras visa-free for up to 90 days (under the CA-4 agreement) and begin the process while in the country. Government application fees run roughly USD 100-200, plus the carnet issuance fee and legal costs. Processing typically takes 6-9 months. Upon approval, the holder registers in the National Registry of Foreigners and receives the resident alien ID card.